tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65218047342224296782018-03-06T16:06:07.640-08:00I have it all, so what do I do with it?Kristine Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13913935798137047754noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521804734222429678.post-57001805266111692722018-03-06T16:00:00.001-08:002018-03-06T16:06:07.695-08:00Hatriots Rising<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zS8-XIfdjNc/Wp8s5Jnn6rI/AAAAAAAAADo/GIv6k3Wc10QqLy-JmF-MkmKjZAfuMG1dACLcBGAs/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="122" data-original-width="181" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zS8-XIfdjNc/Wp8s5Jnn6rI/AAAAAAAAADo/GIv6k3Wc10QqLy-JmF-MkmKjZAfuMG1dACLcBGAs/s1600/download.jpg" /></a></div>There is a new brand of patriotism sweeping this country.&nbsp; But if you think this new brand of patriotism is all about love of country, you would be sadly mistaken.&nbsp; This particular love of country involves hating those Americans whose religion, sexual orientation, skin color, and, most importantly, political beliefs differ from their own.<br /><br /><i>Hatriotism</i>--according to the website Urbandictionary.com--means proving your patriotism by hating someone just because a government, politician, or a self-appointed artbiter of social or moral issues deems it appropriate.&nbsp; A person on either side of the political fence can certainly be a hatriot, but the term generally applies to staunch right-wing supporters who believe anyone who is non-white, non-Christian or non-heterosexual to be, well, a force of evil.<br /><br />They hate Muslims because every one of them is obviously a terrorist, regardless of the fact that many have lived in this country for decades and have assimilated themselves into mainstream communities, are respected business owners and effective community leaders.&nbsp; They dislike women who join the Me Too or Time's Up movements because they are trying to discredit respectable men.&nbsp; They especially dislike the women who participate in the Women's Marches because, even though the goal of the marches are to bring attention to issues that women around the world still struggle to overcome, they see it as an international referendum on the Donald Trump presidency.<br /><br />They dislike minorities because they see them as lazy and a drain on the nation's entitlement programs, even though 40 percent of SNAP recipients are white compared to 26 percent African American, 10 percent Hispanic, 2 percent Asian and 1 percent Native American, according to <i>Newsweek</i>.&nbsp; &nbsp; They hate immigrants, legal or illegal, because they believe that they come to this country simply to obtain welfare, even though U.S. law dictates that any person receiving any entitlements must, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, have proof of U.S. citizenship.<br /><br />But in the last year or so, the definition of&nbsp; hatriot is expanding to include a much wider category.&nbsp; This includes those who supposedly do not show enough respect for the flag, military or the national anthem, those who believe differently from our own views, and--most of all--those who do not support Donald Trump.<br /><br />Hatriotism is a favorite tool of radio pundits, most notably those on the far right.&nbsp; And although its very definition may seem incompatible with Christian ideals, it has been used for the last two decades to make powerful gains among evangelical Christians.&nbsp; Evangelism has become almost synonymous with conservative politics, so much so that, at times, it is difficult to see where one begins and the other ends.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">It seems </span>ironic that the very group that shuns drinking, dancing and even R-rated movies will happily look the other way when a pundit such as Rush Limbaugh uses vulgar language or promotes misogyny or racism.&nbsp; They justify it by claiming that if&nbsp; he "speaks the truth," what does it matter how it is delivered? As a lifelong Christian, it seems to me a slap in the face to all that Christianity is supposed to represent. But it is an outlet that some politicians have been eager to exploit, and never has it been more evident than in the last presidential election.<br /><br />And is getting bigger.&nbsp; And louder.&nbsp; In the <i>Huffington Post</i> column, "The Politics of Hate", Dr. Dustin Swanger, president of Fulton-Montgomery Community College, describes how the hatred has found a willing audience in today's political climate and a poster boy under Donald Trump. "<span style="font-family: inherit;">It seems that we have more than a few — well, let’s call them leaders — who are fanning the fires of hatred for one cause or another. Using tactics like yelling your message loudly — because if you’re loud, you must be right or pointing a finger at a group of people and telling us (loudly) that they are the cause of trouble and we should put them in their place. Encouraging violence among crowds to settle disputes or to make a point is becoming the norm in our country."</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">And this behavior did not stop on the campaign trail.&nbsp; His unwillingness to put a stop to the hate politics that helped him get elected was never more evident than when&nbsp; a protester was killed at at a white nationalist rally in Charlotte, NC last year by a known member of the Alt-Right movement. When Trump initially gave a statement, rather than condemn the white supremacy movement in the United States, he declared that there were "really great people" on both sides of the protest and <span style="font-family: inherit;">practically blamed the anti-hate marchers for starting the entire incident.&nbsp; He later issued a statement condemning hate groups such as the KKK, neo-Nazis and Alt-Right, but not before these groups erupted in euphoria on social media at what they perceived as his initial support for their actions.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">What is most frightening, according to Swanger, is how readily a large proportion of the population responded to&nbsp; these tactics and happily elected one of the&nbsp; biggest perpetrators of hatriotism to the highest office of this country.&nbsp; Trump declared all Mexicans to be rapists, advocated physical violence to protesters at his rallies, and pretty much summed up his policy toward women with his "grab 'em by the pussy" statement.&nbsp; All this was did was earn him the adoration of millions of voters to the point where he could have, as Trump himself so eloquently put it, killed someone and he would still get the votes of this segment of the population.&nbsp; And why?</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Quite simply, they are angry.&nbsp; "They are mad at the government. They are mad at the police. They are mad at the wealthy. They are mad at each other. They are just plain mad. It is easy to whip mad folks into a tither with the tactics discussed earlier. Hate and anger are strong emotions. They are forceful motivators. And, for many, whether they are right is of little consequence," said Swanger.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Regardless of the fact that this misled segment of the American public believes they have a right to embrace hate,&nbsp; it needs to stop. If history has taught us anything, it is that this sort of behavior in a civilized society will lead to its destruction.&nbsp; Throughout history, from Rome to the Third Reich, societies that embrace animosity and violence will eventually self-destruct</span>.<br /><br />But the solution will not be an easy one.&nbsp; It will require people of character, those who oppose hateful narrative and reject bigotry and misogyny, to stand up against it. Our leaders can no longer simply tow the party line but must speak out against beastly behavior and derogatory comments toward marginalized groups, even if it means speaking out against those in their own party.&nbsp; And we the people must elect leaders of integrity to our highest offices as well, not just bullies and egomaniacs who "speak their mind."<br /><br />Most people I know are appalled by the rise of the "hatriots."&nbsp; And I am calling on all of you who oppose the divisive rhetoric, insulting tweets, childish name-calling and overall immature behavior of our so-called "leaders" who cater to the ignorance of these haters to speak with both your voices and your votes in upcoming elections.&nbsp; If history also teaches us anything, it is that good and right will eventually prevail.&nbsp; But the battle may be a costly one, and it will not be easy.<br /><br />It entails putting yourself out there and making yourself vulnerable to the haters.&nbsp; Since early last year, I decided to be as neutral as I could regarding political issues on my own social media sites so as not to offend family or friends.&nbsp; But recent events and the continued decline of civility and decency from my fellow citizens has showed me I can be silent no more.<br /><br />As Dr. Swanger points out, "In a country as wealthy as the United States to leave so many of our people uneducated, so easily led down a path of violence, is not worthy of our history, of our founding fathers, and of our people."&nbsp; Let's take a lesson from other so-called great societies that fell prey to their own propensity for violence and hateful rhetoric.&nbsp; Before the United States of America is no more than a lesson in the history books.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div class="entry__body js-entry-body" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75rem; margin: 3px 65px 0px 0px; max-width: 705px; padding: 0px; width: 705px; word-wrap: break-word;"><div class="entry_footer bn-entry-footer yr-entry-footer" data-beacon-parsed="true" data-beacon="{&quot;p&quot;:{&quot;mlid&quot;:&quot;entry_footer&quot;}}" data-rapid-parsed="sec" id="entry-footer" style="box-sizing: inherit; 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box-sizing: inherit; flex: 0 0 300px; margin: 5px 0px 0px; max-width: 303px; padding: 0px;"></div>Kristine Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13913935798137047754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521804734222429678.post-88544148998445378852017-11-04T16:43:00.000-07:002017-11-04T16:43:54.882-07:00Pumpkin Spice MeHere in the Midwest it is finally starting to feel like the autumn.&nbsp; The leaves - delayed by hot, dry weather - have finally begun to turn.&nbsp; The warm days give way to cool nights.&nbsp; And the pumpkin spice products are everywhere.<br /><br />Coffee shop windows declare that the pumpkin spice lattes and cappuccinos are now available.&nbsp; Burt's Bees has come out with a pumpkin spice lip balm.&nbsp; And grocery stores advertise pumpkin spice-everything, from baking chips to cereals to protein bars.<br /><br />I am waiting for the local gas station to announce that pumpkin spice scented gasoline has finally arrived.<br /><br />This pumpkin-flavored frenzy may seem a bit much.&nbsp; But there is something that drives this pumpkin obsession: the words "available for a limited time only."<br /><br />That is the problem with this beautiful season we call autumn.&nbsp; It is with us for such a limited time.<br /><br /><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-znqibSdHE4c/Wf5QXJfBIKI/AAAAAAAAADU/i56F0IdTNlIOL9HzsQsiqd3bD4J72X4TACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-znqibSdHE4c/Wf5QXJfBIKI/AAAAAAAAADU/i56F0IdTNlIOL9HzsQsiqd3bD4J72X4TACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_1529.JPG" width="320" /></a>Here in Michigan the winter seems like it will go on forever.&nbsp; The spring brings a slow warming and a promise of what lies ahead.&nbsp; And the lazy, idyllic summer days, when we are in the midst of them, often feel like they will go on forever.&nbsp; But that is the thing about fall. It seems to go by in a heartbeat with the leaves falling from the trees before our very eyes and the temperature falling ever so steadily toward that first snowfall.<br /><br />And with that sense of urgency comes an overwhelming desire to visit that pumpkin patch for the perfect jack o'lantern, take that drive to see the trees in all of their blazing autumn glory, and grab something pumpkin-spice before it is gone.<br /><br />Now that November is upon us, pumpkin spice flavors will slowly be replaced by more traditional Christmas favorites like peppermint and eggnog.&nbsp; And so, I will happily indulge in something, anything, pumpkin spice before--like the fall season itself--it is gone.<br /><br />Here's hoping that you too find something to enjoy during this all-too-short autumn<br /> season.Kristine Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13913935798137047754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521804734222429678.post-26202667190779515682017-06-26T12:25:00.000-07:002017-06-26T12:25:05.623-07:00Cat-egorically SpeakingWith my children now grown, working and in college, the house is now quiet during the day. &nbsp;It is the perfect setting to work from home--no arguments coming from the next room, no little fists banging on the office door, and no competition for my attention.<br /><br />Except I forget one small detail. &nbsp;I have cats.<br /><br />I have a dog as well (two if you count the days my son's beagle puppy is here), but the dog does not seem that desperate for my attention. &nbsp;She will bark at the door if she needs to go out, but other than that she is content to nap on the floor or patrol her domain in the backyard.<br /><br />The cats are a different story. &nbsp;Especially my son's cat, Saito. &nbsp;He is a large black and white shorthair. &nbsp;And when I say large, he more than covers the entire keyboard on my laptop when he decides he needs to lay across it.<br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-07E2ZHDXVlk/WVFb6Zvl27I/AAAAAAAAAC4/Ulk37k45ol81wghI5NG0-IkRbxNKdLOYwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-07E2ZHDXVlk/WVFb6Zvl27I/AAAAAAAAAC4/Ulk37k45ol81wghI5NG0-IkRbxNKdLOYwCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_1413.JPG" width="320" /></a>My office is in our basement and gets quite cold, so I generally run a portable heater. &nbsp;Saito loves the heater. &nbsp;If he knows I am in here and the door is closed, he will scratch and screech at the door to get inside. &nbsp;And then proceeds to lay directly in front of the heat. &nbsp;I have had to move him away from it at times for fear that he will catch himself on fire.<br /><br />You may be thinking to yourself, "That does not sound so bad. Certainly it is less distracting than working with children nearby." &nbsp;But there are certain tactics that cats will employ that are far more annoying than a child whining in your ear. For example:<br /><br /><ul><li>Your work space automatically qualifies as a cat bed.</li></ul><ul><li>If you have any document sitting on your desk that is the least bit important, it will emit some sort of chemical signature that signals to a cat, "I must chew on this."</li></ul><ul><li>Cables and phone cords are as enticing as yarn.</li></ul><ul><li>Pens, paper clips, pencils or any other small items fall under the category of "cat toys."</li></ul><ul><li>Paper coming out of a printer is a mortal enemy that must be attacked and subdued.</li></ul><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5F_Z01tfJWQ/WVFcaBRp_pI/AAAAAAAAAC8/djRF-4tI-eQUeJnsiWi3OfyRLEXOlGP9ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5F_Z01tfJWQ/WVFcaBRp_pI/AAAAAAAAAC8/djRF-4tI-eQUeJnsiWi3OfyRLEXOlGP9ACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_1317.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Working with pets may have its challenges, but there is also something soothing about having an animal companion nearby. &nbsp;Studies have shown that workers who are allowed to bring pets with them to the office have higher productivity and lower stress levels. &nbsp;For this reason, some companies have instituted special "Take Your Pet to Work" days.<br /><br />I do feel fortunate to be able to work with my kitty companions nearby. &nbsp;Right now Saito is curled up on a pile of documents on my desk. &nbsp;And I would not have it any other way. &nbsp;Even though I know my hand will be under attack when I need to retrieve them.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m1ySrSproFQ/WVFd0-22KKI/AAAAAAAAADA/7B1T_p5w12Acu1_U-m-pPTrE-LX0D7y6wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m1ySrSproFQ/WVFd0-22KKI/AAAAAAAAADA/7B1T_p5w12Acu1_U-m-pPTrE-LX0D7y6wCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_1434.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Kristine Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13913935798137047754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521804734222429678.post-27277231822603931502017-01-20T10:29:00.002-08:002017-01-20T10:32:00.306-08:00Ties That BlindThe latest presidential election has come at a great cost on many levels. &nbsp;It has affected relationships between friends and co-workers and, as I can attest to personally, it has damaged family relationships as well.<br /><br />Yesterday I shared a post from a friend that featured an ignorant woman screaming and swearing at a couple speaking Greek and insisting that they "speak @&amp;$%#!* English." &nbsp;The name Donald Trump was never even mentioned in the post, nor in any of the comments made by friends that followed.<br /><br />Here is the link to that post:&nbsp;https://www.facebook.com/kristine.s.moore.5/posts/1216914018345398?pnref=story<br /><br />A few hours later a family member chimed in. &nbsp;This person claims I have made this woman a representative of everyone who voted for Donald Trump. They posted an angry and confusing message saying something about my valuing the Black Lives Matter movement over the lives of police officers and supporting criminals visiting the White House. &nbsp;As far as I can tell, I am being accused of joining the Black Lives Matter movement and bringing criminals to the White House for a tour.<br /><br />Then this person said they were only using my own "analogy" to make a point. &nbsp;How there is an analogy between a bigot screaming obscenities and my apparent conversion into an African American White House tour guide for incarcerated individuals, I have yet to figure out. &nbsp;Perhaps someone else can tackle that one.<br /><br />I am connected to hundreds of people on social media. &nbsp;At least half of them have political views that differ from my own. &nbsp;I can have a rational, respectful and logical conversation with each and every one of them on any subject, including politics. &nbsp;With the exception of this one person. <br /><br />When confronted with the nonsensical, clarity is generally your best defense. I pointed out a quote featured put on this individual's own wall from Winston Churchill that said, "Some people's idea of free speech is that they are free to say what they like, but if anyone says anything back that is an outrage." I told this family member that they must have directed that quote at themselves because they were incapable of responding to any difference of opinion without hurling rude and insulting comments. They are the only one I know who behaves like this. And all of this is coming from a person who puts the most vulgar and mean-spirited political posts on their wall that they can possibly find.<br /><br />I then suggested that if they did not like my posts, perhaps they should simply not read them. &nbsp;And as far as the ugly comments directed toward me are concerned, they would not be justified with any sort of response because I am not insecure and feel no need to stoop to that level.<br /><br />And this person responded exactly as you may expect someone who has been cornered to reply. &nbsp;They lie. &nbsp;They attempt to manipulate words and statements to justify their bad behavior. &nbsp;They repeated the statement about my using screaming racist woman as a representative of all Trump voters. &nbsp;They repeated several times that I had declared I was no longer part of America. &nbsp;I had my husband, son and daughter all read the initial post and asked them to point out where I had made either of those statements. &nbsp;They all agreed that this person had fabricated that information.<br /><br />And the coup de gras of this person's argument was that I had proved theChurchill quote right because I got mad.<br /><br />People who live in glass houses really should not call out others on Facebook.<br /><br />Anyone reading that exchange could easily have discerned the utter ridiculousness and immaturity of this person's argument and logic. &nbsp;I certainly would have been justified in responding, even though I vowed I would not.<br /><br />I didn't. &nbsp;Instead I made a decision. As far as I can tell I am the only one in the family this person chooses to treat this way, even though not everyone in our family shares this individual's views. &nbsp;This is not the first time this person has been abusive towards me over politics. But I decided it would be the last.<br /><br />I went into Facebook and deleted most of this person's comments. &nbsp;Then I went into my contacts and removed them from my list of followers. And I have no intention of making contact with this person through social media or on a one-on-one basis anytime in the near future.<br /><br />Was I happy to do it? &nbsp;Of course not. &nbsp;This person has been part of my life for over 40 years. &nbsp;Was it hard to do? &nbsp;Not as difficult as you may think.<br /><br />Because I came to a realization. &nbsp;The ties that bind are often the same ones that blindfold us to the truth.<br /><br />For some people, being right, justifying your viewpoints and using any means to make yourself appear superior override all else, including relationships. &nbsp;People like this feel justified in exhibiting any behavior they wish, no matter how offensive, vulgar or ridiculous, but the fact that you express anything that challenges their view of the world is a threat not only to their superiority, but a threat the validity of their very existence. &nbsp;And they cannot allow that.<br /><br />More importantly, a person who has so little respect for your views that they would go out of their way in an attempt to publicly embarrass you has absolutely no respect for you as a person. &nbsp;And life is too short to surround ourselves with people whose only intent is to use us as a scapegoat for their own insecurities and proceed to take pleasure in tearing us down.<br /><br />Sometimes, for the sake of self-preservation, it is best to simply cut our losses and walk away. &nbsp;Perhaps it preserves hope for reconciliation in the future. &nbsp;But that re-connection will only happen with an apology, and whether or not that would ever come remains in question. &nbsp;People like that tend to think they do no wrong.<br /><br />For &nbsp;the &nbsp;time being I will allow myself to have contact with this person in group settings. &nbsp;They have a birthday coming up and we will send our well-wishes as a family. &nbsp;But as far as my having any individual contact with this person which will allow them to use me as the sole outlet for their anger issues and make me their political punching bag, they will simply have to find someone else. &nbsp;I resign from the job.<br /><br />Regardless, anyone reading this needs to remember to value yourself, your happiness and your well-being over all else, and most importantly, remove the toxins in your life as much as you can. &nbsp;Let them go, no matter how hard it may seem. &nbsp;Surround yourself only with those who value you. &nbsp;As Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your permission." &nbsp;Never, ever give it to them.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Kristine Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13913935798137047754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521804734222429678.post-30251337934177420962016-11-07T10:54:00.000-08:002016-11-07T10:54:43.330-08:00The Presidential Circus of 2016It is election eve. &nbsp;<i>Time</i> magazine has posted a picture of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton together, holding a sign saying "The End Is Near."<br /><br />That statement could be open to several interpretations<br /><br />This current election cycle, however, is nearing its end. &nbsp;It has lasted approximately 82 years. &nbsp;At least it feels that way.<br /><br />When thinking back on this election, I am reminded of a three-ring circus. &nbsp;At the center is Donald Trump, the ringmaster who shouts insults and slanderous remarks at the circus performers. &nbsp;Half of the crowd screams in approval. &nbsp;The other half pelts him with popcorn and soda cups.<br /><br />At the center ring is Hillary Clinton, who walks precariously on a tightrope above a huge pit divided into two parts. &nbsp;One part contains thousands of swirling emails. &nbsp;The other is occupied by a so-called "basket of deplorables" holding pitchforks and sharp sticks and eagerly waiting for her to falter.<br /><br />In the left-hand ring, we have Bernie Sanders, staunchly trying to tame the lion that is the Democratic Party with a spray bottle filled with water. &nbsp;The right ring contains a clown car out of which pop the 16 former Republican presidential hopefuls. &nbsp;There never seems to be an end to them and they make absolutely no sense as they climb over each other and attempt to shout down one another. &nbsp;They are, however, clearly terrified of the ringmaster, who declares them all idiots and keeps pointing to his hands, showing off how large they are.<br /><br />I am not excited nor hopeful of the change to come in 2016. &nbsp;If Clinton is elected, she will be continually surrounded by controversy, distrust and questioning of her judgement. &nbsp;A Republican-held Congress would behave much as they have over the past six years by putting partisanship ahead of what is good for the country, preferring to mimic a group of preschoolers in a sandbox who will take their toys and go home if they don't get their way.<br /><br />And if Donald Trump wins, there will be no more elections. &nbsp;Either he will declare himself president for life, or we will all be dead in four years.<br /><br />Either way, I am steeling myself for a not-so-bright future. &nbsp;I wish I could be like an ostrich and simply stick my head in the sand until the next election cycle. &nbsp;Or until the earth is blown to bits when some world leader says something insulting to Donald Trump on Twitter.<br /><br />If you are excited about your particular choice for president, I wish you luck. &nbsp;If you are like me, the best advice I can give you is keep drinking until the election is over. &nbsp;Then stay drunk for the next four years.<br /><br />If you are disappointed with tomorrow's results, don't despair for long. &nbsp;After all, it won't be long until the circus is back in town.<br /><br /><br /><br />Kristine Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13913935798137047754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521804734222429678.post-31667360007036908232016-09-27T11:58:00.000-07:002016-09-27T11:58:03.417-07:00Another One Bites the DustIt is 2016. &nbsp;Our world as we know it will never be the same. &nbsp;The nation is truly in trouble. &nbsp;Our faith in our leaders have been shaken to the core.<br /><br />Brad and Angelina are getting a divorce.<br /><br />The demise of this Hollywood super couple has grabbed headlines, at times overshadowing the presidential election. The public and media seem to be in shock that the ultimate Hollywood marriage has hit the skids. &nbsp;I, however, am not.<br /><br />Marriage is difficult enough with two distinct personalities carrying two varying perspectives trying &nbsp;to survive in one household. Conflict is unavoidable in the best marriages, and the fight to work it through day after day can be overwhelming.<br /><br />Add to that a gaggle of paparazzi reporting on your every move, going through your trash and hounding your children, and any semblance of a normal life, or a normal marriage, becomes virtually impossible. &nbsp;No wonder so many celebrity marriages dissolve.<br /><br />You would think that having it all--fame, fortune and a picture-perfect family--would translate to eternal happiness. &nbsp;But according to an article in <i>The</i> <i>Huffington Post</i>, those are the exact reasons why these marriages fail.<br /><br />The article by M. Gary Neuman, "Why Do Celeb Marriages a Fail?" lists some interesting reasons why Hollywood couples can't seem to keep it together. &nbsp;Celebrities seem to accept that they will be spending long periods of time away from home and family and embrace the delusion that short visits at home to "catch up" is sufficient to maintain long-term relationships. <br /><br />There also seems to be an issue with defining themselves as a "couple." &nbsp;With much of their time spent living individual lives and pursuing their own careers at the expense of time at home, it is quite easy to realize that you can live without the other person. With more time spent on self-indulgence and less time building a life with their partner, separation becomes rather easy.<br /><br />As the story of their own "conscious uncoupling" begins to evolve, we will surely be riveted to our screens with morbid fascination. &nbsp;There is something a bit satisfying about perfect people having their dirty laundry aired in public.<br /><br />So the next time I find my husband's dirty socks on the kitchen island, or he leaves the outdoor hose running for six hours for no apparent reason, I will not become frustrated. &nbsp;I will realize how lucky I am.<br /><br />After all, I could be jet-setting off to a Paris movie set, leaving my children with their au pair, while conferencing with my lawyers whether or not my pre-nup will hold up in court. &nbsp;I could be Angelina.<br /><br />The horror of it all.<br /><br /><br />Kristine Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13913935798137047754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521804734222429678.post-39918522294534622842016-09-06T15:02:00.001-07:002016-09-06T15:02:38.698-07:00DoorwaysWhile searching for some photos to display at my son's graduation party earlier this summer, I came across one that at first glance did not seem very worthwhile. &nbsp;Upon retrospect, however, it speaks volumes.<br /><br />It is a photo of Sean as a little boy, probably just over a year old, taken around 1998. &nbsp;He is walking out of a room followed by his constant companion back then, our Labrador retriever, Zak.<br /><br /><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mMaZJk5lqPY/V888Me4tkgI/AAAAAAAAACU/p0ksiS7sRakIowcuIXvtKRSgoDaF4CtkQCLcB/s1600/scan0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mMaZJk5lqPY/V888Me4tkgI/AAAAAAAAACU/p0ksiS7sRakIowcuIXvtKRSgoDaF4CtkQCLcB/s320/scan0001.jpg" width="320" /></a>Both of them are facing away from the camera. &nbsp;In itself, the photo is unremarkable.<br /><br />Until you realize that the dog in the picture passed away in 2010 after being part of our family for more than 13 years. &nbsp;And the little boy in the picture started college today.<br /><br />To me, the picture represents the passage of time. How a small child toddling from a room followed by his dog one day is suddenly headed off to his first college class. &nbsp;And it seemed to happen in the blink of any eye.<br /><br />We see our children every day, not realizing how much they grow and change. &nbsp;Not understanding how quickly time will go by and how soon they will leave us to discover their place in the world. One day, they will walk out that door and be on their own.<br /><br />There were days when my children were young and I would imagine how it would be when they are a little older, a little more independent. &nbsp;Now, I would do anything to turn back time so I could savor every moment, not rush through them hoping for the next one.<br /><br />There will be many more doorways in our future. &nbsp;Now I understand that I need to pause those passages, just for a moment, to savor the smile, the hug, or the pure memory of it.<br /><br />The saying goes when one door closes, another opens. &nbsp;As they open for my children, I hope I have the chance to linger at them just for a little while. I know now that they will walk through the next one all too quickly.<br /><br />Kristine Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13913935798137047754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521804734222429678.post-22303141372352896912016-08-02T14:24:00.001-07:002016-08-02T14:24:20.957-07:00Getting My Inner Nerd OnI have been looking forward to the end of July. &nbsp;Not because I love summer (which I do). &nbsp;Not because we were taking a vacation. &nbsp;I was excited because the next <i>Star Trek </i>movie would be coming out. I saw it last week, and it was awesome.<br /><br />I admit it. &nbsp;I am a nerd at heart.<br /><br />I love sci-fi and horror films. &nbsp;I read all of the <i>Harry Potter</i> and <i>Hunger Games</i> books and saw the movies in the theaters. &nbsp;I am working on the <i>Divergent</i> series.<br /><br />I loved <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> and <i>The Hobbit</i> movies. &nbsp;We have the extended versions of all of them.<br /><br />I am a Science Channel junkie, especially anything that has to do with space. &nbsp;Neil Degrasse&nbsp;Tyson is my hero. <br /><br />I would sign up for the program to go to Mars if I did not have a family. &nbsp;On days they were driving me completely insane, I had to restrain myself from putting in an application.<br /><br />I was a huge sci-fi fan when I was young and religiously watched all of the <i>Star Trek</i>&nbsp;reruns and movies. &nbsp;I saw all of the <i>Star Wars</i>&nbsp;films in the theaters. &nbsp;But as I got older, I thought sci-fi was, well, not cool. &nbsp;And the most important thing in any teen's life is to try to fit in. &nbsp;So I diligently suppressed my science fiction urges. <br /><br />Then in the 1990's a new <i>Star Trek</i> series was launched. &nbsp;My husband and I loved <i>Star Trek: The Next Generation</i> and watched it faithfully. &nbsp;It was then I realized that I was a grown-up &nbsp;and did not have to answer to anyone for my likes or dislikes.<br /><br />The point is we are all adults. &nbsp;None of has to hide our inner geek urges any longer. &nbsp;It it time to embrace them, people.<br /><br />I invite all of you to confess your deepest dweeb secrets right here and now. &nbsp;Let go of those inhibitions. &nbsp;Embrace your inner nerd.<br /><br />Do it now. &nbsp;Let your geek flag fly, my friends.Kristine Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13913935798137047754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521804734222429678.post-52467218353402376922016-06-14T11:36:00.001-07:002016-06-14T11:37:47.246-07:00The Trump CardThere is a phenomenon sweeping the U.S. right now. &nbsp;It has bad hair, bad manners and a bad fake tan that resembles that of an Oompa Loompa. &nbsp;And it's name is Donald Trump.<br /><br />I have to say I just don't get the Trump appeal. &nbsp;People say they support him because he is not a politician. &nbsp;He is also a racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, &nbsp;misogynistic narcissist, but apparently they are able to overlook that.<br /><br />Let me say that I am not pro-Hilary Clinton. &nbsp;I have many issues with her as well. &nbsp;And Bernie Sanders has apparently taken a break from reality. &nbsp;If Donald Trump has a list of vice presidential candidates, Bernie Sanders' name should be at the top as he is doing wonders to insure that Trump will be our next president.<br /><br />Common sense and reality have taken a back seat in this country in the last couple of years. &nbsp;Apparently it has now opened the door and jumped out of the car.<br /><br />There is a reason he began dropping out of the debates as the Republican field narrowed. &nbsp;There is a reason he backed out of debating Bernie Sanders. &nbsp;It is because he is all talk with no real plan of action behind it.<br /><br />Trump claims he will go into the Middle East and take on ISIS. &nbsp;Exactly how he is planning to do that is a complete guess, but if he intends to do a Rambo and send U.S. troops in alone, the consequences will be a disaster.<br /><br />The Middle East has been a notoriously unstable region throughout history, yet for any foreign country to go in unprovoked, regardless of their intentions, will be seen as an invasion by not only the Middle East, but likely by the rest of the free world as well. &nbsp;All this will succeed in doing is turn the entire region against the U.S., including friendly nations such as Jordan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. &nbsp;And if you think that any of our allies like Great Britain, Canada and Australia will back a U.S invasion of the Middle East, you are off in LaLa Land with Bernie.<br /><br />Secondly, if we learned any lessons from the Vietnam War, there is something to be said about winning the hearts and minds of the people in a oppressed region. &nbsp; The people of the Middle East are exposed to the violence that ISIS perpetrates far more than anyone in the West. &nbsp;But to come into their homelands unprovoked and uninvited, destroying their villages and killing civilians in an attempt to weed out terrorists will do nothing more than turn their contempt for ISIS into support, as it did with the Viet Cong in Vietnam. &nbsp;We will be only be proving ISIS' claims that the West is determined to destroy Islam and its people if Trump gets his way.<br /><br />I find it amusing that Trump has gone after Bill Clinton for his extra-marital affairs. &nbsp;Not that I am defending Bill Clinton--I find what he did repulsive. &nbsp;But for Trump to go after Clinton when he himself was fooling around with the second Mrs. Trump while married to the first Mrs. Trump, and then cheat on the second Mrs. Trump, is the ultimate example of the pot calling the kettle black. &nbsp;And as for Hilary Clinton being an "enabler" in her husband's affairs, Trump should know. &nbsp;He was apparently married to a couple of enablers himself.<br /><br />And Donald's going to build a wall. &nbsp;To keep out all of those Mexican rapists. &nbsp;And he will get Mexico to pay for it and they will be happy about it.<br /><br />This is a country where 42 percent of its citizens live below the poverty line. &nbsp;There biggest export is the illegal drug trade. &nbsp;And Trump believes they will happily hand over an estimated $2.4 billion (and this is a conservative estimate) to build a wall. &nbsp;That figure does not include the cost of maintaining said wall, nor does it cover patrolling and monitoring all 2,000 miles of it, which will be virtually impossible to do.<br /><br />Trump makes me nervous. &nbsp;And if I am nervous, the rest of the free world is outright terrified about what would happen if Trump makes it to the White House. &nbsp;I read an article recently with quotes from various world leaders about Donald Trump. &nbsp;All of them questioned his character, stability and qualifications. &nbsp;The Swedish prime minister actually said that if Trump is elected, we should all head for the bunkers.<br /><br />Even if you point this out, his supporters will not care. &nbsp;They do not care that he supported Hilary Clinton's senatorial runs. They will not care that he went from being pro-choice to advocating criminal charges against women who have abortions. &nbsp;They will not care that there is no substance to what he says, no clear plan or agenda for this country, that has made it fashionable to once again be a racist, or that he changes his mind faster than you can apply to Trump University. Don't get your hopes up waiting for that acceptance letter.<br /><br />The man could fly to Italy and assassinate the Pope in front of thousands of people in the middle of St. Peter's Square, and his supporters would not only get him off of the murder charges but would also still vote for him as president. &nbsp;They would also start a campaign for his canonization to sainthood. &nbsp;Never mind that he is not Catholic. &nbsp;And still alive.<br /><br />The bottom line is that, even though I am not a fan of Hilary Clinton, I refuse to vote for a man who believes that all blacks are criminals, all Mexicans are rapists, all Muslims are terrorists, and women are nothing more than pigs, dogs and objects to be judged by their appearance alone. &nbsp;Making America "great" again should not involve stepping back 50 years to a time where violence, bigotry an out and out contempt for others based solely on race, religion or gender are part of what is considered a great society.<br /><br />United we stand, divided we fall. &nbsp;His only clear plan for this country is playing on the fear, ignorance, stereotypes and innuendos of those citizens who are angry or misinformed to attain another "asset." And the White House would be the ultimate feather in Donald Trump's cap. &nbsp;We should not be electing a president whose only agenda seems to divide us further and lead us stumbling blindly, and alone, into a world that is rapidly and unpredictably changing.<br /><br />Many people believe that he is the "Trump Card" that will fix what ails this country. &nbsp;As for me, this is one hand that I will not play.Kristine Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13913935798137047754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521804734222429678.post-51492197498791923702016-05-31T10:30:00.001-07:002016-05-31T10:30:24.400-07:00Throwing Shade at the Queen BI have a confession to make. &nbsp;It is one I do not let many people know. &nbsp;It is not one that I am necessarily proud to admit.<br /><br />The only way to get through something this difficult is to just blurt it out. &nbsp;So here goes. . .<br /><br />I am not a fan of Beyonce. &nbsp;In fact, I think she is overrated.<br /><br />I have tried to like her music. &nbsp;And I have to admit that "Single Ladies" is a pretty catchy song. &nbsp;But is it enough of a reason for me to bow down before her like the rest of the world? &nbsp;Frankly, no.<br /><br />She has an okay voice. &nbsp;She is a good dancer. &nbsp;She is a beautiful woman. &nbsp;But there are thousands of other women who are equally good in all of these categories, and many are better.<br /><br />I realize that being a non-Beyonce fan is an anomaly. &nbsp;Saturday Night Live even devoted a skit to this very topic. &nbsp;It's like non-Beyonce fans are some kind of social outcasts or deviants.<br /><br />Al Roker recently mispronounced the name of her collective fans, the "Beyhive," on the Today Show. He referred to them as the"bay-hive" rather than the correct pronunciation, which is "bee-hive." He received hundreds of angry tweets and emails, including one from his own daughter. He probably does not receive anywhere near that reaction when he incorrectly predicts the weather or makes a slightly off-color comment. But God forbid he insults the Queen B.<br /><br />So go ahead and hurl your insults and degrade me on social media. I am standing my ground.<br /><br />Just don't sick the Beyhive on me.<br /><br />Kristine Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13913935798137047754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521804734222429678.post-76202642526037409852016-05-17T10:00:00.000-07:002016-05-17T10:00:35.838-07:00The Healing Power of WaterI walk my dog, Chloe, almost every morning. &nbsp;The morning air is a wonderful way to clear your head and sharpen your senses early in the day.<br /><br />One of our favorite routes takes us past the Shiawasee River. &nbsp;Not only is it enjoyable to watch the seasons change along the riverbank and look for the neighborhood geese that call it home, but there is something restorative about the sound of water.<br /><br />Nearly every morning, we stop for at least a few moments and enjoy the seasons along the river banks. &nbsp;We listen to the sound of the water rushing under the bridge, or marvel at how beautiful the trees look covered in fresh snow. We anticipate the buds on the trees and the sprouting plants in the spring, or watch as the colors emerge in the cool fall weather. We breathe in the air and take a moment just to be. Rather, I breathe in the air. &nbsp;Chloe munches on the grass.<br /><br />If you allow it, the sound of the water flowing by can take your worries and cares with it, even if it is just for a moment. &nbsp;No matter how busy the day ahead, I always allow a few moment for the water to wash all the stress from my life before heading back home to face the day.<br /><br />At home I have two ornamental ponds, one in the front and one in the back of my house, that I try to spend a few moments enjoying every day during warm weather. &nbsp;I have two small tabletop fountains inside my house that run every day. &nbsp;Obviously I have a lot of stress in my life.<br /><br />There is a reason that, throughout history, settlements have always sprung up around water. &nbsp;It is essential for life, but also restorative for the soul.<br /><br />So the next time you find yourself overwhelmed with work deadlines, family obligations and the day to day annoyances of life, seek out the sound of running water. &nbsp;You will be surprised at what it can wash away.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x_2P3RPZZhU/VztNjWII9QI/AAAAAAAAACE/V_qY3lJEUqAaH5oz6kdvuUUAgOJ6G2pJACLcB/s1600/IMG_0963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x_2P3RPZZhU/VztNjWII9QI/AAAAAAAAACE/V_qY3lJEUqAaH5oz6kdvuUUAgOJ6G2pJACLcB/s320/IMG_0963.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Kristine Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13913935798137047754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521804734222429678.post-86917134318511521242015-12-23T09:07:00.000-08:002015-12-23T09:07:17.522-08:00Battle of the BulbsThe holiday season is upon us. &nbsp;And that means holiday decorations are going up all around.<br /><br />Here in the Moore household we tend to go for a more subtle approach. &nbsp;White lights and a candle in each window. &nbsp;Most of our neighbors seem to fall into this category as well.<br /><br />Some people, however, use the holidays as an excuse to go all out in the decorating department. &nbsp;There was &nbsp;house in the neighboring small town that used to follow this approach. &nbsp;The house and every window, eave and piece of siding was bordered in lights. &nbsp;The roof was completely covered in lights as well. &nbsp;We are talking probably tens of thousands of lights on this house. Frankly it reminded me of the Griswold house in <i>National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation</i>.<br /><br />I have to admit I admire the hard work that goes into decking the entire house for the holidays. &nbsp;I would not, however, want that electric bill. &nbsp;Nor would I want to be their neighbors. &nbsp;Never mind all of the gawkers and onlookers crowding your street. &nbsp;You would probably need blackout curtains to sleep at night.<br /><br />Sometimes I am a bit confused as to the holiday theme to which our neighbors are striving. &nbsp;There is a house near us that has kept the same lights up since Halloween. &nbsp;The porch is outlined in orange lights with a bright green spiderweb on one of the bushes. &nbsp;I cannot figure out if they are being lazy or if they are going for a <i>Nightmare Before Christmas </i>theme.<br /><br />Another house has had a plastic alien peering out the front window, also since Halloween. &nbsp;Last night I noticed he was sporting a Santa hat. &nbsp;At least he is getting in the holiday spirit.<br /><br />Some houses have no lights on the exterior. &nbsp;I often wonder if they don't go all out in the Christmas decorating department, or if they simply choose to keep their celebrations more subtle and personal.<br /><br />After all, Christmas is not about lights, gifts and all the external trappings. &nbsp;It is about home and family. &nbsp;The happiness we feel inside when we give, whether it is the perfect present or simply the gift of time to those we care about.<br /><br />So whether you choose to deck the halls with a thousand glittering lights or put up a small tree on a table, may your Christmas be full of love, happiness and light.<br /><br />Merry Christmas, everyone.<br /><br /><br /><br />Kristine Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13913935798137047754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521804734222429678.post-60444361251100374012015-11-17T11:52:00.001-08:002015-11-17T11:52:53.793-08:00Talkin' TurkeyNext week we will celebrate that all-American holiday of Thanksgiving. &nbsp;And nothing says Thanksgiving like a good old, all-American turkey.<br /><br />The turkey has become both the symbol of the holiday and the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving table. &nbsp;You would be hard-pressed to think of a picture of the Thanksgiving celebration that does not showcase a juicy, golden-skinned bird presented on platter surrounded by seasonal garnishes while the family practically drools in anticipation.<br /><br />But with that tradition comes a lot of pressure to present the perfect bird. &nbsp;Produce an epic turkey fail and your Thanksgiving dinner does not have a drumstick to stand on, so to speak.<br /><br />Both my mother and mother-in-law can produce a mean turkey. &nbsp;My grandmother was also an expert at the art of turkey preparation. &nbsp;That is a lot of pressure to live up to at the holiday table.<br /><br />Fortunately I have had some turkey success stories over the years. &nbsp;The worst scenario I have endured was underestimating the time a turkey would take to thaw or cook through. &nbsp;I myself do not have any personal horror stories of birds gone wrong, but do know of a few.<br /><br />I have a friend who cooked her first Thanksgiving dinner shortly after she was married. &nbsp;She stressed about producing the perfect bird as she was anxious to impress her new mother-in-law. &nbsp;When the big day arrived, her bird came out of the oven golden and juicy. &nbsp;It seemed her first endeavor was a success, until they began to carve and un-stuff the turkey. &nbsp;Unfortunately it was discovered she neglected to remove the little bag from the cavity containing the giblets.<br /><br />My sister also had her own near turkey disaster one Thanksgiving early in her marriage. &nbsp;Not wanting the turkey to soil her newly-cleaned oven, she lined the interior in aluminum foil. &nbsp;This kept her oven from becoming splattered, but it also prevented the turkey from cooking as it greatly affected the oven temperature. &nbsp;She could not figure out why her turkey was not browning after several hours in the oven until her mother-in-law decided to take a look. &nbsp;The foil was promptly removed and her turkey eventually cooked through, several hours later than anticipated, in her now less-than-spotless oven.<br /><br />I have come to understand, however, that a turkey fail can be as valuable to the holiday as a turkey success. &nbsp;A dried-out turkey that no one could eat without smothering in gravy or the deep-fried bird that nearly set the garage on fire can become the stuff from which family stories grow and are passed on.<br /><br />&nbsp;I still remember the stories my Great Uncle Emil used to tell about his wife, my Great Aunt Tillie, who could not bake to save her life. &nbsp;One of my favorites was the one he told about when she baked banana bread. It was so hard he wanted to use it as a brick, which he jokingly said he would put in front of the tires of his car to keep it from rolling down the hill. &nbsp;Or the holiday when she produced a beautiful apple pie from the oven. &nbsp;Unfortunately she had used the wrong kind of apples, which had apparently evaporated and left only a nice golden crust behind.<br /><br />So whether your bird is Norman Rockwell picture-perfect or rivals the one on the Griswold table in <i>National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation</i>, remember that memories that you make with those around the Thanksgiving table matter much more than what is placed upon it.<br /><br />Have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving. &nbsp;And remember to baste that bird.<br /><br /><br />Kristine Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13913935798137047754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521804734222429678.post-45762865578241105442015-10-27T11:21:00.000-07:002015-10-27T11:21:52.760-07:00The Half-Century MarkNext week I will mark one of those milestones in life. I will hit the half-century mark next Monday.<br /><br />I had been feeling pretty good about my looming 50th birthday until this past weekend. &nbsp;I was in a store when the woman at the register asked if I would qualify for a senior discount. &nbsp;I asked at what age the discount started, and she replied "Sixty or older."<br /><br />Talk about a blow to the ego.<br /><br />Either I looked particularly bad that day, or I am starting to look much older than I think I do.<br /><br />Granted there are days when I feel much older than fifty. &nbsp;I have noticed that things are starting to ache for no apparent reason, it takes a little more time to get up in the morning, and I can no longer read anything without glasses.<br /><br />However, I am still competing in 5K races and consistently place in the top three. &nbsp;And I wear the same size clothing as I have for the last 25 years. Nevermind the fact that size 4 has become a little snug in a few spots. And the phenomenon of going into a room and not remembering why I walked in there in the first place is happening more often.<br /><br />I am usually inclined to believe the saying often attributed to Mark Twain: "Age is a case of mind over matter. &nbsp;If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." &nbsp;Most days, I don't give my age a thought.<br /><br />But the next time a sales clerk wonders if I a might be over 60, I may need to give that person a piece of my mind. &nbsp;If I can find it at that particular moment.Kristine Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13913935798137047754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521804734222429678.post-16086701181172707622015-10-13T12:44:00.001-07:002015-10-13T12:49:48.437-07:00Merry October!A few weeks ago a friend of mine sent me a disgusted text:<br /><br /><i>I am at Target and the Christmas decorations are already out.</i><br /><i><br /></i>I probably would have been a little more surprised and slightly disgusted to hear of Christmas decorations for sale in September if I had not seen the Kmart commercial for Christmas lay-aways several weeks before that.<br /><br />Forget Christmas in July sales. &nbsp;It is now Christmas in July, August, September, October and November. &nbsp;Pretty soon we will just skip these months and have six months of December.<br /><br />A few years ago a local radio station began playing all Christmas music on November 1. &nbsp;The Hallmark channel will be switching to holiday programming on October 31. &nbsp;Personally I would rather get my Halloween decorations put away before I start hearing <i>The First Noel</i> and <i>Jingle Bells</i>.<br /><br />The <i>Today Show</i> had a report this morning that said 26 percent of people have already begun holiday shopping. &nbsp;They featured a woman who was already done with all her shopping and is in the process of wrapping gifts.<br /><br />I have to admit that I already have few things purchased. &nbsp;If I see something in a catalog that I know a family member would like, I will get order it before it runs out of stock or, a more likely scenario, I will have forgotten about it. &nbsp;But will I be finished before those Black Friday sales begin? &nbsp;I doubt it.<br /><br />There is something about being part of that holiday rush that puts me in the Christmas spirit. &nbsp;Warm weather and Christmas shopping just don't go together as far as I am concerned.<br /><br />So even though I hope to have the bulk of my shopping complete before Thanksgiving, it wouldn't be the holidays without being part of that Christmas shopping crunch, for better or worse.<br /><br />Let's give Halloween and Thanksgiving a little respect and keep <i>Silent Night</i> and eggnog to a minimum until then. Lest I turn into the Grinch long before December.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Kristine Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13913935798137047754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521804734222429678.post-63160863384445408452015-09-29T10:40:00.000-07:002015-11-17T11:11:09.671-08:00The Saddest Part of the JourneyYesterday was one of those difficult days that all pet owners dread having to face. &nbsp;We had to make a decision to end the suffering of one of our "fur-babies."<br /><br />Our 15-year-old cat Rascal began showing signs of a urinary tract infection over the weekend. &nbsp;I called our vet on Monday morning and was able to get him in.<br /><br />What I thought was a bladder infection turned out to be so much more. Tumors were wrapped around and inside his bladder and urinary tract. &nbsp;His kidneys were full of blood and beginning to fail. &nbsp;And the vet found a heart murmur&nbsp;from a valve that was not closing properly. &nbsp;He had clearly been sick for some time but had given us no indication of his deteriorating condition.<br /><br />Because of the seriousness of the situation and the assurances of our vet that our beloved cat was dying and there was very little we could do, we made the sad decision to end his pain. &nbsp;He was still under anesthesia from the exploratory surgery when I sat down next to him, talking to him and petting him while the vet gave him the final shot.<br /><br />I told him that even though the rest of the family could not be there, we all loved him. &nbsp;I told him what a wonderful cat he had been and that it was okay to let go. &nbsp;I watched as he took his last breath and left any pain he may have been in behind.<br /><br />I fully expected to bring my cat back home with some antibiotics. &nbsp;Instead I brought him home in a box to bury him in our backyard.<br /><br />The decision to love and care about anything, be it a person or an animal, always come with the risk that we will experience the pain of loss at some point. &nbsp;With an animal it is almost certain to end in heartache, simply because their life spans are so much shorter than our own. I know people who have experienced the death of a dog or cat and can never bring themselves to take on the responsibility of pet ownership again, simply because the pain and grief are too much to bear.<br /><br />Bringing an animal into your life can be difficult, in both the beginning, as they go through the puppy and kitten stages, and at the end when letting go is inevitable. &nbsp;It is the time in between, however, that keeps me bringing animals into our lives, and always will as long as I am able to care for them.<br /><br />They give love unconditionally with no strings attached. &nbsp;They help us exercise, comfort us with their silent presence when we are down, and make us laugh with their antics. All they ask in return is that we care for them for the duration of their lives.<br /><br />I have never understood how anyone could surrender an animal when it becomes old or sick to a shelter or vet's office. &nbsp;Pet ownership should never be conditional. &nbsp;When you take on the responsibility of an animal, I believe it is your obligation to see them through their entire journey, no matter how sad that ending may be.<br /><br />We still have several pets at home, including Rascal's two 15-year-old sisters. &nbsp;We know we will take this road again sooner rather than later. &nbsp;But it is a journey I am willing to conclude with them, all the way to the bitter end<br /><br />Rest in peace, Rascal. &nbsp;We love you.<br /><br />Kristine Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13913935798137047754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521804734222429678.post-30430668932376500682015-09-15T12:49:00.000-07:002015-09-15T12:49:39.812-07:00With my children now at the ages of 21 and nearly 18, I thought the parenting finish line was in sight. &nbsp;But the reality is that there is no such thing as an end to the parenting journey.<br /><br />Three weeks ago Shannon ended up in the emergency room with an extremely high heart rate and numbness on her entire left side. &nbsp;That is a medical mystery we are still trying to solve.<br /><br />Two weeks ago Sean had his wisdom teeth removed. &nbsp;We had to make several trips back to the surgeon's office when two of the sockets were not healing properly. &nbsp;This past weekend, he developed an infection on the left side and had additional surgery this past Monday. &nbsp;He is now even more swollen than after his wisdom teeth initially came out and in even more pain as well.<br /><br />In the midst of all the doctors, tests, surgeries and MRIs, there is something they both needed the most--their mom.<br /><br />I had visions when my children were young about how life would be when they were both grown. &nbsp;I would have more freedom, be able to work more hours and resume life as I knew it before parenting because they just would not need me as much.<br /><br />But the truth is that life is complicated. &nbsp;The older we get, the more complex the situations and experiences. &nbsp;This is true for both parents and children.<br /><br />No matter what age, our children still need our support and guidance. &nbsp;And as parents, we still need to know we are an important part of their lives. &nbsp;That we still matter.<br /><br />I have found that as my children grow older, they often need me more now than they did when they were small. &nbsp;I will be a parent for as long as we all shall live.<br /><br />&nbsp;And that makes me happier than I thought it would. &nbsp;Because to certain people in this world, I will always matter. &nbsp;No matter how old we all get.<br /><br /><br /><br />Kristine Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13913935798137047754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521804734222429678.post-32443772709974518252015-08-25T16:40:00.000-07:002015-08-25T16:40:17.693-07:00The Days Are Long, But The Years Are Short<br />Just this past weekend, my daughter returned to Michigan State University and moved into her first apartment. &nbsp;After taking more than a year off to recover from some health issues I have gotten used to her being here, and the house seems so quiet now.<br /><br />My son is still at home but will be starting his senior year of high school in just a couple of weeks. &nbsp;His time here, too, is limited.<br /><br />I often think back to when they were small and how long and chaotic the days felt. &nbsp;Now it seems like it has gone by in the blink of an eye.<br /><br />Years ago I heard an expression regarding the time spent raising your children. &nbsp;"The days are long, but the years are short." &nbsp;When you are in the middle of play dates, school plays, sports, scouts, and the myriad of other things in which your children are involved, it feels like the time you spend carting them around will never end. &nbsp;Now it seems it has ended far too quickly.<br /><br />If parenting has taught me anything, it is the virtue of patience. &nbsp;Patience not only is needed to deal with children on a daily basis, but also with the time and energy that is spent guiding, teaching and just plain giving of yourself to them. &nbsp;For that precious time will one day come to an end.<br /><br />For those of you still in the midst of raising young children, enjoy every moment, even the difficult ones, and resist the urge to wish them away.<br /><br />Like it or not, one day that wish will definitely come true.<br /><br /><br />Kristine Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13913935798137047754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521804734222429678.post-41549896932401954472015-08-11T21:01:00.000-07:002015-08-11T21:01:38.156-07:00DVR-ing Through LifeA few years ago I discovered something life-altering: the magic of the DVR.<br /><br />This wonderful device now allows me to watch a half-hour show in a little over 20 minutes. &nbsp;It has spared my hearing from the obnoxious advertisers who still insist on recording commercials at ten times the volume of the program I was viewing. &nbsp;I have been able to escape from the endless array of product promotions extolling the woes of PMS, incontinence and, my personal favorite, erectile dysfunction.<br /><br />There are a &nbsp;few commercials I find clever and funny, like the Allstate "Mayhem" commercials with the guy who declares himself to be a tree branch, a raccoon, or an annoying child in the back of a car to demonstrate what could happen if you aren't insured for these situations. &nbsp;I love the one where he is the streaker on a football field and declares, "I'm 300 pounds, painted blue and wearing nothing but cleats."<br /><br />Most commercials, however, are downright annoying. &nbsp;The Pier One commercials with the tag line "Find what speaks to you" get on my nerves, but that is mostly because the only thing the items in Pier One say to me is "You can't afford me."<br /><br />The commercials I absolutely cannot stand are the Cottonelle toilet paper commercials where the woman with the British accent walks up to strangers in shopping malls and airports and asks them "How's your bum?' &nbsp;Clearly this is staged since the people in the commercials cheerily discuss personal hygiene with a perfect stranger. <br /><br />If some woman walked up to me on an airport concourse and began firing off questions of this nature, I would not be so lively and forthcoming. &nbsp;I would whip out the pepper stray and start screaming for a TSA agent.<br /><br />So these days I happily skip through the feminine hygiene commercials and get to the good stuff. &nbsp;It's a shame we can't do the same with the little everyday annoyances in life. &nbsp;How nice would it be to press a button and skip the traffic jam, the long lines at the grocery store or the endless wait at the doctor's office.<br /><br />But life doesn't work that way. &nbsp;Like commercials, you have wade through the annoying to get to the gratifying part. &nbsp;If you get into the habit of skipping through what you think is unnecessary too often, you might miss out on something good.<br /><br />Sometimes you just need to resist the urge to hit that fast-forward button. &nbsp;You might just discover a hidden gem.<br /><br />Then again, you may also come across an advertisement for adult diapers, but that's a chance you take.<br /><br />Kristine Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13913935798137047754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521804734222429678.post-55148473832584004192013-08-06T09:32:00.000-07:002013-08-06T09:32:05.255-07:00Paranormal WitlessThe other night while perusing through the 300-some channels on our satellite television network, I discovered that there was once again nothing worth watching to be found.&nbsp; I settled on something called <em>Celebrity Ghost Stories</em> where so-called celebrities you have barely heard of recount their paranormal experiences.&nbsp; <br /><br />Everyone from Greg from in <em>The Brady Bunch</em> to some woman who appeared in <em>The Bachelor </em>have apparently had a ghostly encounter.&nbsp; Something like 78 percent of people say they believe in ghosts, yet only 18 percent claim they have actually seen one.&nbsp;&nbsp;Funny, though, how&nbsp;nearly every C-list celebrity in Hollywood has apparently been haunted.<br /><br />From <em>Celebrity Ghost Stories</em> to <em>Paranormal Witness</em> to&nbsp;<em>A Haunting</em>, ghost stories seem to dominate the airwaves these days.&nbsp; I have to wonder what the fascination is with these shows.&nbsp; Do we enjoy being frightened?&nbsp; Or is it simply an effort to understand the mysteries of what lies beyond this world?<br /><br />I have never seen a ghost, nor do I have much of a desire to find one.&nbsp; My Aunt Nancy, however, would love to have this experience.&nbsp; When her brother-in-law Fred was dying of cancer years ago, she asked him for one special request.&nbsp; She always wanted to see a ghost.&nbsp; Fred, who always had a great sense of humor, replied "I'll see what I can do."<br /><br />Fred has&nbsp;been gone for many years and has yet to make an appearance.&nbsp; Being that Fred, during his lifetime, had a hard time walking the straight and narrow and had a reputation as a gambler and a somewhat shady business man, we have a feeling that Fred is in a place where they are not letting him out.<br /><br />Most of us have an opinion of what happens after we die.&nbsp; Many believe in the concept of heaven and hell.&nbsp; Others believe that death is simply a dark, mindless, endless void.&nbsp; <br /><br />More than likely, I have family and friends in all three places.<br /><br />My religion teaches that we are either rewarded or punished for our actions during our time on this earth and does not really address the concept of ghosts and hauntings.&nbsp; However, if someone has passed in a violent and untimely manner, or has lived a less than ideal mortal existence and is afraid of what awaits them in the great beyond, I believe&nbsp;it is possible that their&nbsp;souls can become lost or choose to remain behind.<br /><br />Nevertheless, I am making a conscious effort to live a life that will be rewarded after my demise.&nbsp; The best that any of us can hope is to leave this world a little better than we found it.<br /><br />But just in case, I am keeping a list of those I plan to haunt.<br /><br /><br /><br />Kristine Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13913935798137047754noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521804734222429678.post-1907711750420187792012-12-03T10:24:00.000-08:002012-12-03T10:24:00.385-08:00Politically Correcting Christmas Be warned--the politically correct police have run out of everyday faux pas to pursue and are now coming after Santa Claus.<br /><br />A child advocate named Pamela McColl has decided that the classic holiday rhyme "'Twas The Night Before Christmas" &nbsp;needs to be revised because Santa is a smoker. &nbsp;She has published a new version that has removed the lines, "The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath".<br /><br />McColl's reasoning is that 25 percent of long-term smokers first pick up the habit before age 10, and that having a beloved children's character smoking in the middle of the living room is a bad influence.<br /><br />I must have read this tale a hundred times over the years, and I never once thought of Santa as a smoker. &nbsp;It is all part of his "jolly old elf" persona. &nbsp;I would imagine the reference to smoking goes over the head of 90 percent of us, but McColl is apparently convinced it will result in millions of children writing to Santa for a pipe and tobacco in their stockings.<br /><br />What's next? &nbsp;We will be deleting the references to Santa going up and down the chimney because it is technically breaking and entering? <br /><br />What about the line about his protruding stomach? &nbsp;Will that also be changed because it appears unhealthy? &nbsp;A Santa with washboard abs is just wrong. &nbsp;And what about the reference to his stomach as "a bowl full of jelly"? &nbsp;Somehow the line "shook as he laughed like a bowl full of tofu" doesn't have the same ring.<br /><br />If we are going to p.c. Christmas, let's just take it all the way and do away with the term "elves." &nbsp;Couldn't this be considered derogatory? &nbsp;Perhaps it would be more correct to refer to them as "vertically challenged production and shipping coordinators."<br /><br />I agree that there are certain terms and expressions that should not be part of polite society. However, in an effort not to offend anyone or make sure children are only exposed to healthy images, we are taking things a bit too far. <br /><br />There have always been and will always be smokers, overweight people and other characteristics we deem less than ideal in this world. &nbsp;Perhaps these are not the best lifestyles or attitudes to pursue, but it allows children to understand that everyone has attributes and qualities that make them unique. &nbsp;And just as those around them can reflect good examples, it is not a bad idea that they are exposed to behaviors NOT to imitate. &nbsp;It does not take much to make them understand that smoking is what causes Grandpa to have yellow teeth, a bad cough and smell like an ashtray.<br /><br />There are some icons in the world with which you simply do not mess, and Santa is one of them. &nbsp;So I will take my Santa chubby with pipe smoke circling around his head, thank you very much. <br /><br />And if anyone suggests he should not wear red because it represents gang colors, may they be strung up with garland in a pear tree occupied by a partridge, three french hens and four calling birds with full stomachs.<br /><br />Kristine Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13913935798137047754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521804734222429678.post-39812356544088107782012-11-03T07:52:00.000-07:002012-11-03T07:52:30.795-07:00Annoying The Vote Out Of UsThe saying "every vote counts" certainly hold true in any election, but I am really starting to feel honored with the caliber of people who are vying for my support in this election.<br /><br />I have been disconnecting, ignoring and blocking political phone calls for months. &nbsp;In the past four days, I have hung up on former President Bill Clinton, actor and former Senator Fred G. Thompson, and Clint Eastwood. &nbsp;The fact that these are recordings are merely a technicality.<br /><br />I usually have some choice words for these robo-callers before I hang up. &nbsp;I know they can't hear me, but it does my blood pressure good to let them have it.<br /><br />The closer this election gets in both proximity and statistics, the more both parties break out their "big guns" and bombard us with mail, media ads and phone calls. &nbsp;I have to wonder how effective this is when we become so overwhelmed with political statements and conflicting information that we are essentially numb to their messages.<br /><br />I like to have the "Today" Show on in the mornings as I prepare for my day. &nbsp;Yesterday morning, three out of every four commercials were political ads. &nbsp;Out of these three advertisements per station break, two of them were from the Super PAC trying to elect Mitt Romney.<br /><br />I suppose this blitzkrieg was supposed to persuade me that Romney is the more effective, desirable candidate. &nbsp;Frankly, the only effect it had on me was sheer annoyance. &nbsp;Surely not the result for which they were aiming.<br /><br />The barrage of these ads did encourage me to change my mind, however. &nbsp; I changed my mind about listening to the "Today" Show and turned on the Sonic music channels on our satellite dish. &nbsp;These are blissfully commercial-free.<br /><br />I really hope I have the chance to hang up on Barack Obama and Mitt Romney themselves. &nbsp;That would really do wonders for my ego.<br /><br />I have to admit however, that I did enjoy speaking to Clint Eastwood. &nbsp;I explained that I could not talk at the moment because I was too busy having a conversation with a table lamp.<br /><br />He understood completely.<br /><br /><br />Kristine Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13913935798137047754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521804734222429678.post-79818386447734492562012-10-15T10:31:00.000-07:002012-10-15T10:34:06.489-07:00Election 2012--Lighten Up, People!I always knew going into this election year that some people were simply going to lose their minds over this political contest. &nbsp;What I did not expect was that so many would lose their sense of humor.<br /><br />I recently put a photo on Facebook that I found on another friend's page that parodied Mitt Romney's Big Bird comment at the last debate. &nbsp;It featured several Sesame Street characters holding guns and knives and, to paraphrase the quote, basically said that it was going down with Romney. &nbsp;Perhaps there is something warped about finding a picture of public television characters holding weapons and beer bottles while using street language amusing, but that is for another blog.<br /><br />Although I was just posting a funny photo, I was chastised by two people who wanted to know why I was making a statement that Sesame Street needs federal funds when they make millions on merchandising. &nbsp;Funny but I thought I was just copying a picture.<br /><br />Sadly this is only one example. &nbsp;Shannon recently had to "unfriend" someone on Facebook &nbsp;when they attacked her for posting a political cartoon. &nbsp;When she messaged him to ask him to please respect her views, she was told he would not show any restraint because she was "responsible for the deaths of thousands of people." &nbsp;Never thought a cartoon held that much power.<br /><br />Why does society feels when it comes to politics, it is perfectly respectable to attack and belittle those whose views differ from their own? &nbsp;Is it part of the general rude and disrespectful behavior that now permeates our society, or is our political system encouraging radicalism and intolerance? <br /><br />I have many friends with differing political views, but what would ever cause me to refer to them in terms such as neo-Nazis capitalists or baby-killers? &nbsp;I simply cannot comprehend becoming so wrapped up in politics that it is acceptable to cross the boundaries of tolerance and decency, but more and more people do it every day without thinking twice.<br /><br />When our founding fathers created a two party system, do you really think they envisioned constituents&nbsp;firing weapons into political offices full of people or a public refusal to cooperate with an opposing political party simply out of spite?<br /><br />Regardless, I refuse to let this election rule both my life or my sense of humor. &nbsp;I stopped getting a local newspaper years ago because they allow people to write into a forum and basically make fun of the political views of others. &nbsp;I saw more mature behavior in a preschool sandbox than these so-called adults exhibit. &nbsp; I certainly plan to vote in this election, but I am confident I can do the research and make up my mind on the issues without the help of political calls, advertisements and forums that pose as "news."<br /><br />I for one will not allow this election taint my character or my sense of humor. Perhaps it is because I have learned over the years that I can only be responsible for myself and my own actions and decisions. &nbsp;I do not waste time worrying about things beyond my control.<br /><br />More than likely, however, it is because I do not believe this next election will mean the end of America if President Obama is elected for another term. &nbsp;Nor does it dictate that lower class will be wiped out and the middle class decimated if Mitt Romney is the winner.<br /><br />I know this because we are a nation of innovation and strength. &nbsp;We have weathered storms before. &nbsp;We survived British colonialism. &nbsp;We survived a civil war. &nbsp;We survived Herbert Hoover. &nbsp;We survived Jimmy Carter. &nbsp;We will persevere no matter who is in the White House, and succumbing to fringe elements that pits one against the other and leaves no room for compromise or a difference of opinion only weakens us. &nbsp;United we stand. Divided we fall.<br /><br />I only hope that respect, tolerance and humor will persevere as well.<br /><br />Kristine Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13913935798137047754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521804734222429678.post-49329566031574539832012-08-12T16:42:00.002-07:002012-08-12T16:42:35.846-07:00No Cure For Olympic FeverThe Olympic flag still flies and the torch still burns for a few hours, but the games of the 30th Olympiad are winding down.<br /><br />I am sad.<br /><br />I am a self-proclaimed Olympic junkie. &nbsp;I will watch Americans compete in anything from the marathon to Dressage, although I do draw the line at synchronized swimming.<br /><br />I know for a fact that I am not alone. &nbsp;Even people who normally despise television will be glued to their set for hours watching something like rhythmic gymnastics. &nbsp;No one I know is a water polo fan, but dress some players in red, white and blue and slap an American flag on a swim cap and you have the potential for a national phenomenon.<br /><br />And we love it when America wins. &nbsp;There is something profound about watching your flag being raised at any Olympic medal ceremony. &nbsp;The fact that we blew away everyone else in the medal count is not too shabby either.<br /><br />It's not necessarily the memory of watching America rack up medals that stays with me. &nbsp;It is the moments of profound sportsmanship and true determination that I most admire.<br /><br />It is the first female athlete from Saudi Arabia competing in spite of death threats in the hopes of paving the way for other young Muslim women to follow. &nbsp;It is the disabled athlete from South Africa running in an Olympic race on his prosthetic legs. &nbsp;Or the hurdler from China not making it over a single hurdle due to an injury, but finishing the race by hobbling down the track on one leg and kissing the Olympic rings on the final hurdle before being helped off the field by his fellow competitors. &nbsp;These moments prove that you do not have to have a medal around your neck to be a true champion.<br /><br />All good things must come to an end, so I will take comfort in the fact that the winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia are only two years away.<br /><br />Gotta go. &nbsp;The gold medal game in handball is startingKristine Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13913935798137047754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521804734222429678.post-63606609018945843092012-06-26T11:32:00.001-07:002012-06-26T11:36:30.366-07:00Anyone Seen My Ice Pack?Today's entry will be a short one, not because I have little to say but because I only have one hand with which to type it.<br /><br />I had surgery last Friday to repair damage to my thumb.&nbsp; I have worn out the cartilage and since the bones were painfully rubbing together, the only option was to fuse them.&nbsp; I am in heavy cast from my fingers nearly to my elbow for at least a week and will be in a soft cast for the remainder of the summer.<br /><br />With age 50 only a few years away, I&nbsp; am beginning to realize that the old adage of "with age comes knowledge" is true.&nbsp; What I did not expect&nbsp;to find&nbsp;it is the knowledge of how what we eat affects digestion, the position in which&nbsp;we sleep determines how our backs will feel&nbsp;in the morning&nbsp;or that our joints can accurately predict weather patterns.<br /><br />Getting older is no walk in the park.&nbsp; It is more like a hobble.<br /><br />Not that I am scanning infomercials for mechanized chairs or hearing aids just yet.&nbsp; All things considered, I am feeling pretty good and taking steps to stay that way.&nbsp; I am still surprised at times, however, to notice how I can mark the passage of time by how well my reading glasses still keep everything in focus.<br /><br />It&nbsp;amazes me sometimes to see how many products out there are being marketed to keep those of us who fall in and around the Baby Boomer bracket young and spry.&nbsp; It seems to be especially true for women.&nbsp; I think this is due to one of two factors.&nbsp; It could be that we simply are the vainer sex and are willing to&nbsp;spend more money staying that way.&nbsp; Or perhaps it has to do with the belief that men become more "distinguished" as they age while we need to worry about the morning we climb out of bed and it all hits the floor.<br /><br />I am especially intrigued by then success of the novel "Fifty Shades Of Gray" which is supposed to reveal what middle-aged women really want.&nbsp; I can tell you that.&nbsp; <br /><br />Forget the romance.&nbsp; We want a great chiropractor to take care of our aching backs.&nbsp; We need a good&nbsp;massage therapist&nbsp;to help our&nbsp;stiff muscles and joints.&nbsp; An expert shopper to help us find clothes to hide the sags and bulges.&nbsp; Finally, a great makeup artist to disguise those wrinkles.<br /><br />Now there's a&nbsp;great American tell-all novel.&nbsp; I could call it "Fifty Tubes of Ben-Gay."Kristine Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13913935798137047754noreply@blogger.com0